These are prime spots for bird watching this spring throughout North Carolina
From the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between, North Carolina is home to hundreds of species of birds. And for those interested in seeing them, there are also plentiful options for bird watching in the Charlotte area and beyond.
In addition to traditional trails and greenways, there are also driving paths, as well as searchable guides to find different types of birds before heading out on your birding expedition.
Here’s what to know about prime bird-watching spots in North Carolina:
The Carolina Thread Trail
This “network of connected greenways, trails and blueways” features “over 300 miles of trails and 170 miles of blueway open to the public.” The trail stretches into 15 counties in North and South Carolina.
Much of the trails “provide suitable bird habitat and are conducive to birding,” the Mecklenburg Audubon Society advises.
“Many of our local birds walks are along these trails,” the group says.
Mecklenburg County greenways
Mecklenburg County’s greenways are spread throughout the community, with “62 miles of developed greenway trails” open to the public for birding and more.
“All of the greenways have good habitat for birds primarily because they have been built in and along creek flood plains,” the Mecklenburg Audubon Society notes.
NC Birding Trail
The NC Birding Trail is a “driving trail to link birders and nature-based tourists with great birding sites across the state and the local communities in which they are found,” with more than 330 locations across the state.
You can find locations and search for spots with specific types of birds at ncbirdingtrail.org/how-to-use-the-nc-birding-trail.
More places to bird watch in the Carolinas
The Mecklenburg Audubon Society offers a map of numerous birding sites in and around Charlotte at meckbirds.org/birding-spots.
You can find even more birding sites across the entire state at carolinabirdclub.org/birdingnc.
